Need Info - Relactating

[3wildones]

Hey everyone I am new on here and and hoping someone can give me some information. I have a 3yo son who has a sensitivity to milk. He BF until he was almost 1yo and at that time self weaned(I think he would have nursed longer except that he has low muscle tone and he was unable to nurse long enough to get full - it was easier to drink out of a regular cup). Anyway we have done soy milk since then but lately it is making him sick, as is goats milk and rice milk. I have been thinking about relactating so I can pump and give it to him in a cup. What do you all think? And how would I go about it? Any information is helpful.
Thanks,
Mel

[timneh_mom]

Since nobody has answered, I'll just tell you that you have my support! I have not been through relactation personally but where most people start I think is by pumping as often as a newborn would nurse, and eventually you will make milk. Some women take herbs or drugs to help with supply too. I hope someone else will give you some more advice!

[japonica]

Hi Mel:

I don't have experience with relactating but there's a chapter on it in one of my fave BF book by Dr. Jack Newman. He says that there are a number of factors that come into play, including how long since the child has been weaned and what your supply was like beforehand. Since it has been quite a while, you might have to do a similar protocol to what he recommends for adoptive lactation (he has a protocol for inducing lactation in adoptive mothers). It includes using birth control pills to mimic pg hormones, domperidone to increase prolactin levels, then discontinuation of the bcps, increase the domperidone, and frequent pumping (like every 3 hours). It can be done, but obviously you'd have to work with an LC or doc to get the meds and monitor how things are going...

Good luck!! I know there are quite a few adoptive moms who have successfully induced lactation, so it can be achieved...

J

[Ruthla]

You might want to consider the possibility of simply not giving him any milk at all, and feeding him other foods to get him the nutrition he needs. Giving your milk to your child is a wonderful thing, but I'm not sure it will be worth the effort in this particular case.